Harness or other strap



(No Model.)

' W. W. BAYS.

HARNESS OR OTHER STRAP. No. 524,236. Patented Aug. 7, 1894.

fievezzfor WW/wax v WM W UNITED STATES P TENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM w. 'BAYS, or ROME, GEORGIA.

HARNESSOR QTH ER STRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 524,236, dated August7, 1894. Application filed February 21,1894. Serial No. 501,011. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. BAYS, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Rome,

in the county of Floyd and State of Georgia, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Harness or other Straps, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in harness and otherstraps, the purpose thereof being to provide a self-tighteningspring-joint, or elastic connection, between two dilferent parts of thestrap, whereby an elastic, permanent tension may be preserved, thestrain being shifted, at the maximum tension, to a connecting strap, orlink. It is my object to provide a device of this kind which shall beapplicable toa trunk, or package strap, to check-reins, bridle-reins,martingales, girths, stirrups, traces, and many other uses.

In order that others may fully understand and be able to make,construct, and use my said invention, I will proceed to describe thesame in detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section showing my invention appliedto a trunk, or other strap. Fig.2isa plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section showing a slightly modified construction.

In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 indicates a strap of anydesired form, or size, and adapted for any ordinary use. In this strap,atany suitable point, is interposed a spring joint, or elasticconnection, consisting of a body of rubber 2, of such length, breadth,and thickness as to afford a sulficient elastic resistance to enable itto sustain a proper degree of strain. To the ends of this body of rubberare securely attached loops 3, of leather or other suitable material,which are lapped upon the ends of the rub ber and fastened by stitchingor other equivalent means. Within-these loops and between the same andthe ends of the rubber 2, are placed rings 4, or, if preferred,rectangular frames similar to the frames used upon buckles. These rings,or frames, serve as means of attachment for the two portions of thestrap 1, in which the spring joint is interposed. The rubber-joint 2,should be somewhat wider than straps l and 5, as seen in Fig. 2.

The numeral 5 indicates a strap-loop, which consists of a comparativelyshortv strap passingthrough both the rings, or frames 4:, and having itsends brought together and united by means of a buckle 6. I prefer topass this strap through loops, or keepers 7, which may conveniently bestitched, or otherwise fastened between the ends of the rubber and theloops 3, a central loop 8 being also provided to inclose the middleportion of the strap 5, upon the opposite side of the body of rubber.The strap last named is fastened in its buckle 6 at such a point thatthe body or rubber 2 must yield, or stretch longitudinally, beforetension is applied to said strap. Thedegree of this yield may evidentlybe varied by letting out, or taking up, the strap. 5 byrmeans of itsbuckle 6. It is evident that this loop, or strap 5, will arrest thestretching, or elongation, of the rubber-joint 2, at the proper point,thus preventing it from stretching too far and, in case it should breakthe strap 5,

will prevent any damage being done to the strap 1, and will also preventthe package from being ruptured and its contents disclosed.

I may dispense with the loops 3 by using a strip of rubber of somewhatless thickness and carrying its ends through the rings, or frames 4, andthen lapping said ends upon and securing them to opposite faces of themain portion of rubber by meansof stitches, rivets or other suitablemanner, as shown in Fig.3. The ends of the rubber strip, in this case,will usually be long enough to pass the center of the body portion, andthethreeov'erlapping thicknesses are inclosed by the loop 8. Thestrap-loop 5 does not differ in construction, in any material respect,from that already described.

The buckle 6 maybe either single,or double, and if preferred, buckles ofany suitable pattern may be substituted for the rings, or

frames, 4. The spring joint, or elastic con nection, may be inserted orinterposed in the strap 1 at any point preferred, either near one end,in the, center, or at any point intermelimited by a check-strapconnected to bolts insaid stirrups and lying parallel with and upon oneside of the rubber strap; The latter being attached to the bolts in thestirrups upon one side of the line of strain, saidstirrups are subjectto frequent change of position, due to the variations in strain, and arecaused to rock upon the bolts to which the rubber is secured, therebyrapidly wearing the rubber away and cutting it through. This rocking ofthe-stirrups, also, unfits the strap for use upon a trunk, which wouldspeedily be destroyed by having the stirrups driven vthrough its Wallsby falling thereon, or by dropping other trunks upon the stirrups. I amaware, also, that a check-rein has been devised in which a coiled springis inserted in a loop in the strap, upon a guide-rod, the end of thespring being engaged by the hooked ends of a wire bail, the other endextending beyond the strap-loop and having an eye for the check-reinhook. The bail is rigidly secured .toa band, or sleeve, which inclosesand slides upon the strap-loop. This device differs entirely from myinvention, in construction and function. In my invention the strap-loopmay be shortened so as to render the rubber spring whollyinoperative: byvarying the length of the strap-loop the elastic yield of the rubber maybevaried in a corresponding degree; in my improvement, the spring, orelastic connection, is distended when strain is applied to the strap;the loops -7 which pass over the strap-loop are permanently connected tothe rubber'strap, and, finally, the strap-loop maybe wholly removedwithout in any manner afiecting the other parts and withoutinterferingwith the use of the strap. The loop 8, is not fixed to therubber 2, but is fitted around it, and may slide longitudinally on it.In all these particulars my invention is broadly .diiferent from thecheck-rein last mentioned.

What I claim is 1 The combination of a rubber strap, rings or framessecured thereto, straps secured to said rings or frames, and aninelastic strap-loop loosely passing through the rings or frames and adjustably secured together at its ends, said inelastic strap-loop lying onboth sides of the rubber strap,but whollydisconnected therefrom,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal inpresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM W. BAYS. [L. s.] Witnesses:

W. R. ONEAL, FRANK A. CURTIS.

